The possibility of enhancing the anticancer effect of a nanodrug by the use of photodynamic therapy : In vitro studies on human breast adenocarcinoma cells / Soad Zakaria Elemam ; Supervised Samira Saleh Mostafa , Amira Mohammed Gamal Eldeen

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an anti-cancer modality uses a non-toxic photosensitizer and visible light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroy tumors. 5- Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is metabolized into protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) which accumulates in tumor cells forming singlet oxygen upon exposure to visible light. This reaction is termed ALA based photodynamic therapy (ALA - PDT). Doxorubicin (DOX) is a valuable cytotoxic agent in breast cancer treatment. Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (PLD) is nano - drug formulations of doxorubicin, where doxorubicin hydrochloride is encapsulated in liposomes characterized by prolonged circulation time and unique toxicity profile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the enhancing effect of low doses of DOX or PLD on ALA - PDT in treating breast cancer using human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF- 7) as in vitro model. MCF- 7 cells were pretreated with DOX or PLD followed by ALA - PDT. The cell viability was evaluated and PpIX production was measured spectrofluorimetrically

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